Valved dispensing cap for collapsible tubes



June 29, 1954 c, vlTALE 2,682,358

VALVED DISPENSING CAP FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Filed Sept. 23, 1950 V IN VEN TOR. 622 76)} 24522116;

Patented June 29, 1954 VALVED DISPENSING CAP FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Carmen Vitale, Newark, N. J.

Application September 23, 1950, Serial No. 186,411

1 Claim. 1 This invention relates to a valved dispensing cap for a container of the Collapsible tube type. The invention has for an object to provide a valved dispensing cap for a collapsible tube which is adapted to replace the removable cap by which the tube is initially closed, so that said valved cap serves as a manipulatable closure for the tube which, in use, can be quickly and, easily opened for dispensing the content of the tube from time to time, and between times closed so as to retain the content of the tube against escape and protected against contamination.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dispensing cap structure for a collapsible tube, which structure comprises a cylindrical cap body adapted to be screwed onto the threaded. discharge neck of the tube, said cap body having an outlet opening in its side, and the cap structure further including a rotatively manipulatable valve means which is provided with a yieldable stopper element for cooperation with the outlet opening of the cap body, whereby to close and seal said outlet opening.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be understood from the following description.

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary side elevational view of a collapsible tube showing the valved dispensing cap of this invention applied to the discharge neck thereof; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken on line 2-2 in Fig. 1, the valve means of the dispensing cap being shown in closed condition; Fig. 3 is a cross sectional View, taken on line 33 in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to that of Fig. 2, but showing the valve means of the dispensing cap in open condition; and Fig. 5 is a cross sectional View, taken on line 55 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional View, similar to that of Fig. 3, but showing a modified construction of valve means for the dispensing cap; and Figs. 7 and 8 are similar views respectively showing other modified constructions of valve means for the dispensing cap.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, the reference character It indicates a container of the collapsible tube type which is provided with an externally screw-threaded tubular discharge neck ll. Initially the discharge neck of the tube is closed by means of a removable closure cap (not shown) which screws onto said discharge neck. In the hands of the user, the tube is opened by removing the initial closure cap, after which the valved dispensing cap of this invention can be screwed onto the discharge neck I l in place of said initial closure cap.

One illustrative embodiment of the valved dispensing cap according to this invention, as shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, comprises a hollow cylindrical cap body l2 which is open at its inner end and closed at its outer end by an end wall I3. The open end of said cap body [2 is internally screw-threaded so that, in use, the cap body can be screwed onto the externally screw-threaded discharge neck ll of the tube It, so as to remain thereon until discharge and consumption of the content of the tube is complete. Intermediate the internally screw-threaded open end portion and the outer end wall [3 of the cap body 12, the side wall of said ca body is provided with an outlet opening It which leads out of the cap body interior [5.

Rotatively mounted within the interior It of the cap body [2 is a valve member. This valve member has at its outer end a circular journal piece I 6 which abuts the internal face of the outer end wall l3 of the cap body. The diameter of said journal piece it corresponds to the internal diameter of the cap body interor It so as to be rotatively supported within the latter in true concentricity with relation to cap body 12. Extending axially outward from said end piece it) is a shank l! which is journaled in a central bearing opening I *8 with which the outer end wall [3 of the ca body i2 is provided. Affixed upon the exteriorly projecting end portion of the shank l! is a finger piece or knob l9, which is disposed to abut the external face of the outer end wall 13 of the cap body. Preferably, the diameter of said finger piece or knob it somewhat exceeds that of the cap body, so that the periphery of the finger piece or knob projects appreciably beyond the external periphery of the ca body, thus facilitating grasping of the finger piece or knob for manipulation of the valve member, as will later herein be more fully explained. Unitary with and extending inwardly from the periphery of journal piece 16 within the interior I5 of the cap body I2 is a semi-cylindrical valve piece 251, the same being arranged and concentrically maintained in rotatively slidable close bearing contact with the internal surface of the side walls of the cap body I2 by said journal piece. This valve piece 26, upon rotative manipulation of the valve member, can be moved relative to the outlet opening I4 of the cap body I2 so as to close and open said outlet opening at will. Valve piece 20 cooperates with journal piece I6 and the side wall of cap body I2 to confine a longitudinal passage of comparatively large cross-sectional area extending from the inner face of said journal piece throughout the length of the interior of said cap body to the discharge neck I I of tube In so as to establish communication between the latter and outlet opening I4 when said opening is uncovered by valve piece 20 in the open position of the valve member. Due to this construction and arrangement, valve piece 20 will cause rotary motion of the entire contents of the interior of cap body I2 every time the valve member is rotated about its axis. Carried by the valve piece 20 is a yieldable stopper element which is adapted to cooperate with the outlet opening I4 so as to close and seal the same. Said stopper element may be optionally provided in various forms. Illustratively, in one form thereof, as shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the same comprises a resilient stopper member 2| made of rubber or like elastically deformable or compressible material. This stopper member 2I is supported within a hollow boss 22 with which the valve piece 20 is provided. The end wall of said boss 22 is perforated, thus providing an internal annular flange 23 which is imbedded in the upper or inner end portion of the stopper member 2I, whereby to affix or anchor the stopper member to the valve piece 20 in such manner that its lower or outer end portion will normally project somewhat from the outer face of the valve piece 20. The lower or outer end of the stopper member 2| is preferably rounded to a substantially semi-spherical shape.

In the use of the valved dispensing cap as provided with the stopper member 2 I, when said cap is operatively applied to the discharge neck I I of a collapsible tube II), to close said dispensing cap, the valve member is rotated by the finger piece or knob I9 so as to dispose the valve piece 26 across the outlet opening I4 of the cap body I2, with the stopper member 2| aligned with and. in closing and sealing relation to said outlet opening (see Figs. 1, 2 and 3).

When it is desired to discharge some of the content of the tube III, the dispensing cap may be opened for emission of such content by rotating the finger piece or knob I9 a half turn approximately. By so doing the valve member is rotated to carry the valve piece 20 away from the outlet opening I4 of the cap body I2, whereby to permit the latter to freely communicate with the interior I 5 of the cap body. As the valve piece 20 is thus moved, the stopper member 2!, by reason of its elastically deformable and compressible characteristics, will yield as it is moved into engagement with the internal surface of the side walls of the cap body, whereby its projecting outer end will ride out of the outlet opening I 4, and will be retracted from its normal projected extension from the outer surface of the valve piece 20 by the deforming and compressive force exercised against the same by the unyielding side walls of the cap body, so that, when the valve piece 20 clears the outlet opening I 4, the latter will di rectly communicate with the interior of the cap body. Under these conditions, when the tube I is squeezed, the tube content will be discharged through the discharge neck II into the interior I of the cap body, and from the latter will be emitted through the outlet opening I4 (see Figs. 4 and 5). After discharge of a desired amount of the tube content, the cap body I2 may again be closed by rotating the valve member back to its initial position, which again brings the stopper member 2I into closing and sealing relation to the outlet opening I4.

As above stated, the stopper element may be variously constructed and formed. A modified form and construction of stopper element is shown in Fig. 6, and comprises a leaf spring member 24 which is suitably aflixed by an end portion thereof to the valve piece in overlying relation to the inner surface of the latter, as e. g. by rivets 25 or other suitable fastening means. The free end portion of said leaf spring member is formed to provide an outwardly arched or bulged stopper member 26, which projects through an opening 21 with which the valve piece 20 is provided. In the closed position of the valve member, the stopper member 26 will enter the outlet opening I4 so as to close the same. It will be obvious that, when the valve member is turned to open position, said leaf spring member 24 will readily yield so as to permit the stopper member 26, under the thrusting engagement thereof by the side walls of the cap body l2, to lift out of the outlet opening I4 and thereafter ride over said cap body walls.

In Fig. '7 is shown another modified form of yieldable stop element, which similarly comprises a yieldable leaf spring member 28 secured by an end portion thereof to the valve piece 20 in overlying relation to the inner surface of the latter, as e. g. by rivets 29 or other suitable fastening means. The free end portion of leaf spring member 28 is provided with an upwardly projecting seating cup portion 30 in which is seated a spherical stopper member or ball 3| which projects outwardly through an opening 32 with which the valve piece 20 is provided. In the closed position of the valve member, the stopper ball 3| will engage in the outlet opening I4 so as to close the same. When the valve member is turned to open position, the leaf spring member 28 will yield so as to allow the stopper ball 3I to ride out of the outlet opening I4 and over the cap body walls.

Still another modified form of yieldable stopper element is shown in Fig. 8, and comprises a downwardly and outwardly open housing or socket member 33 which is unitary with and so as to be carried by the valve piece 20. Slidably supported in the housing or socket member 33 is a stopper member 34. This stopper member 34 is yieldably urged to project outwardly from the open end of the housing or socket member 33 by a compression spring 35, which is supported within the latter behind the stopper member 34. In the closed position of the valve member, the stopper member 34 will engage in the outlet opening I4 so as to close the same. When the valve member is turned to open position, the stopper member 34 will yield against the tension of the compression spring 35 so as to ride out of the outlet opening I4 and over the cap body walls.

It Will be understood that in a simplified form of the dispensing cap as provided with the rotatively manipulatable valve member having the valve piece 20, the stopper element may be omitted.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

A replacement dispensing cap for a collapsible tube having an externally screw-threaded discharge neck, said cap comprising a hollow cylindrical body closed by an outer end wall and open at its inner end, said open inner end being inter- 5 nally screw-threaded for engagement with the discharge neck of the tube, said body having a circular outlet opening in its side wall, a valve member rotatable within said body, said valve member including a circular journal piece of a diameter corresponding to the internal diameter of said body and disposed to abut the outer end wall of the latter, a semicylindrical valve piece extending from said journal piece lengthwise within the interior of said body to rotatively slide against the internal side wall surface of said body, the internal side of said valve piece being spaced from the side wall of said body to define a longitudinal passage of comparatively large cross-sectional area communicating between 1 the tube discharge neck and said outlet opening of the body when said outlet opening is uncovered by rotation of the valve piece to its open position, said valve piece having a radial recess opening out from its external side in the plane of the outlet opening of the cap body, a stopper ball housed in said recess, said stopper ball bein of a diameter exceeding the diameter of said outlet opening of the cap body, a compression spring seated in said recess behind the stopper ball operative to yieldably thrust the latter to closed relation to said outlet opening of the cap body when aligned in stopped engagement therewith, and manipulating means for the valve member externally mounted on the cap body and connected with the journal piece of said valve member by a shank extending through the outer end wall of the cap body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

